Braves Add Minor League Arms

Please credit Graphic created by Fred Owens

The Draft is over and the international signing period hasn’t started but the Braves continue adding minor league pitchers.

On the 21st Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com reported that the Braves purchased the contract of Carlos Fisher from the Somerset Patriots. The 31 year old. Fisher was drafted by the Red in the 11th round in 2005 and made it to Cincinnati in 2009. In three seasons there he posted a 4.74 ERA, 1.541 WHIP in 98 and 2/3 innings striking out 86 and walking 55. He was released by the Reds in 2012 and signed with Oakland in 2013 but they released him in August. He was signed by the Rays but released again in November. This spring he signed with the Patriots of the Atlantic League where he threw 20 1/3 innings in 20 games striking out 24 and walking 4 posting a 1.33 ERA and a 0.541 WHIP. he’s been assigned to Gwinnett where he’s appeared in three games without allowing a run.

More from Braves Minors

On the 25th the Braves acquired 25 year old RHP Cody Fassold from Kansas City for cash. Fassold signed with the Royals in 2011 and was promoted to AA this year. His minor league numbers prior to arriving at Pearl show 193 2/3 innings over 106 games with a 4.05 ERA and 1.405 WHIP striking out 214 while walking just 84/

As Alan noted earlier, yesterday the Braves signed righty Kanekoa Texeira to a minor league deal.. Texeira – 28 last pitched in the majors with the Royals in 2011 posting a 2.84 ERA but a 2.526 WHIP in just 6 1/3 innings. The prior year he split time between Seattle and the Royals posting a combined 4.84 ERA, 1.598 WHIP in 61 1/3 innings striking out 33 and walking 25. At AAA Louisville (Reds) in 2013 he threw 26 innings with a 2.42 ERA striking out 20 and walking 5 posting a 1.154 WHIP. This season however he couldn’t find an affiliated job and signed Bridgeport Bluefish where he appeared 9 games throwing 51 2/3 innings striking out 31 and walking 16 with a WHIP of 1.471. He’s been assigned to Gwinnett where he thrown 10 1/3 innings in two games and picked up a win.

Monday they added 24 year old righty Cole Brocker from the Frontier league Normal CornBelters (no I don’t know what an abnormal cornbelter is). Brocker was drafted out of Sacramento City College after his went to Sacramento City College his sophomore year. While there he put together two good seasons posting a 3.25 ERA in 25 1/3 innings while striking out 16. The next year he backed that up by striking out 22 in 16 innings posting an ERA of 2.25. That was good enough for the Tigers who selected him in the 39th round of the 2011 draft. He decided to go to Oregon State instead and continued to pitch well there. In 2012 he put up a 4.88 ERA in 24 innings while striking out 26 and walking only nine. In his senior year he posted a 3.86 ERA and struck out 11 in 11 2/3 innings. After graduation this spring he signed Normal CornBelters and in his debut on May 17th he threw 2 1/3 innings of one hit shutout ball hit striking out four of the eight batters he faced. Sop far this year he’s thrown 30 innings in 19 games posting an ERA of 1.50 ERA and striking out 36 batters.

On the other hand . . .

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted (on Twitter) that the Braves released righty Kameron Loe,. Everyone I know wondered why we signed Loe who was awful last year at all. While at Gwinnett he pitched to an 8.83 ERA in 17 1/3 innings before the Braves realized their mistake and released him.

That’s A Wrap

These young men are mostly minor league depth but a couple have good strikeout numbers and may become important down the line either in Atlanta, filling out the minor league rosters so others can learn their craft or as a piece in trade that makes the Braves better.

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